3 Slow Days

Shaken from my sleep, I slowly open my eyes to see Misrurri leaning over me.

"Jayson it's time to get up. I would suggest you get up before the guards make you get up."

I raise my upper body while rubbing my eyes.

The sun is barely up, what time is it? This sucks, why do I have to get up this early, but she does have a point..

I briefly stretch and let out a small yawn. As I do so, a guard comes to the cell.

Hmm, it's a different one compared to yesterday. It's definitely not a beastman because he's about 7 or 8 feet tall, has scales, and the head of an alligator? Or is it a crocodile? Is this a lizardman?

"Morning Misrurri, I have a question, the guard this time, is it a lizardman?"

She nods her head slightly.

"Yes, and if he were to wake you up, you'd have a few broken ribs from being kicked."

Well I should be lucky I woke up when Misrurri woke me up..

Much like last night, some sort of slop is thrown in the trough, and those in the cell included Misrurri and I eat the terrible stuff. After breakfast we're corralled to the center of the camp. Already waiting for us is a lion beastman, he speaks to all of us.

"My name is Zenith Proudmane, I'm the second son of the leader of the Koila clan of the beastman tribe, Proudmane. You're here because of your crimes against the Nortontan United Tribes, and we'll work you to the bone until you've died or repaid your debts to the nation."

If it wasn't for Misrurri telling me what he said after he walked away from us, I would have been utterly clueless. I really need to learn the language around here. We were dismissed from the center of camp, and divided into groups given various tasks. Luckily I was in Misrurri's group looking after the animals.

"Jayson, first we start with the horses, then we move on to the livestock. This may be a camp, but we also have to be self sufficient so we take care of plenty of goats and pigs as well."

"Alright Misrurri, also I have a question for you"

"What is it?"

"Well, if it's something you wouldn't mind.. Would you tell me about yourself? Like how you got here and things like that."

"Okay, sure."

She replied before speaking at great length of her past.

As I said before all I know is life within this compound. I was born here eighteen years ago. My mother was the daughter of the chief of a tribe of kitsune. My grandfather died before I was born, so I don't really know about him. From what my mother said; he didn't like the way the other tribes and clans were changing to counteract the Theocracy, so he fought for change. Only to be betrayed and lost on his battle field.

After grandfathers defeat, our tribe was assimilated into the beastman tribe and my mother had to bear the sins of her father by becoming a slave.

My mother did whatever she could to get better treatment for herself and the other kitsune who ended up here. Even if it meant offering up her body. When I was born I didn't know who my father was. A few months before my mother died, I learned who my father was; he's a prisoner in this camp, a human. He forced himself on my mother, so I'm not a full kitsune.

Growing up with my mother, we were slightly better off than the other slaves. Mostly in terms of treatment, we were beaten less and guards would sneak us some of the food they were eating on occasion. Extra blankets would be given in winter. Mother always taught me to be kind; but not to be foolish, and if one day I come across someone who doesn't know the harshness of this land, I should do everything I can to help them out.

Shortly after I turned twelve; my mother passed away due to some plague that was rampaging through the country, when she died I started doing whatever I could to survive. Including gaining favors from the guards.

For six years I've been getting by; though not as well as my mother, but that's because I try not to give myself away for everything I can. The payment I gave that guard was the first time in a little over a year I did something like that. I would like not to do something like that again, so do keep your head about yourself and don't do anything stupid.

Misrurri wraps up her conversation with me and heads back to tending to the animals while I'm stuck here flabbergasted at all the information she gave out.

Wait.. Does she think I'm an idiot?! How else was I supposed to act as a man, I thought she was being raped. I tried to help her! Whatever, I need to keep it cool and try to plan this escape even though information is limited.

"I-I see.. I'm sorry your life has been rough Misrurri… I don't know what else to say other than I'm sorry I inadvertently put you in that situation.."

Not really knowing what to say I fumble around my words as I reluctantly attempt to tend to the animals around the two of us.

Misrurri shrugs off my failed attempt at an apology as if telling me not to mind it. This young woman has more composure than most people her age, hell she has more composure than I do, I don't know if I could do the things she's done to survive.

Time feels as though it's dragging on although as I look at the sky I can see between Misrurri's story, and taking of the animals, it seems most of the day has passed us by already.

"It looks like it's getting late Misrurri, shouldn't we head back already?"

"Yes, we should let's finish up with the horses first Jayson."

Why is it she treats me like an imbecile? It's not like I was suggesting we just leave right away….

Sighing while clearing the thoughts from my head we finish up our duties for today.

As we're heading back, the lion beastman from this morning stops Misrurri and I. Ignoring me, he focuses completely on Misrurri while talking.

I don't think I'll ever understand how there's beastmen who look like humanoid versions of animals, and how there's also beastmen who look like normal humans with animal ears and tails or even wings. I have a lot to learn about this world. I should ask Misrurri about it after we eat or maybe tomorrow, I don't want to annoy her too much. I should probably not eavesdrop on their conversation… Not that I can understand it..

While paying no heed to Misrurri and this lion beastman, I continue to head back to where we reside, for a lack of better terms.